Late last month, on 29th April 2026 (Wednesday), ONE OK ROCK made their long-awaited return to Malaysia for their “DETOX” tour. Even with some unfortunate circumstances, the band rocked Unifi Arena, creating an unforgettable memory for the crowd of OORers.
But before the members took the stage, Hype Malaysia sat down with Toru Yamashita (Toru), Ryota Kohama (Ryota) and Tomoya Kanki (Tomo) for a quick interview. During our chat, the rockstars spoke about their 20-year career, their fans and the impact of their music.
Q. Welcome back to Malaysia! How does it feel to return with new music and a new tour?
Toru: It’s been a while since our last show, and during that time we’ve toured so many countries and also released new music, so it’s definitely nice to return (to Malaysia). We really look forward to performing and sharing ONE OK ROCK’s music with the fans again.
Q. You’re set to perform in Malaysia again after 3 years. What are you looking forward to the most with your performance?
Ryota: Our fans in Malaysia have always been very energetic and passionate. So, what I want to see the most is our fans’ reactions to our performance and how excited they can get during the show.
Q. Having visited Malaysia so many times, is there something that you have always wanted to do here but still haven’t gotten the chance to? Or is there something you always have to do when you’re here?
Tomo: Personally, I’ve always wanted to go golfing. When we have free time during our tour, we like to explore the place we’re at, so it’d also be nice to get recommendations on where we can go in the city.
Q. You’re nearing the end of the Asian leg of the “DETOX” tour. What has been the most memorable moment from the tour, onstage or offstage?
Toru: A lot of things happened during the tour, so it’s hard to point out a single memorable moment. But I think what stuck out the most was the love and energy we’ve felt from the fans, no matter where we perform. I think that’s why we feel that drive to perform better as the tour went on, so we could return the love we’ve received.
Q. Speaking of the fans; one thing about ONE OK ROCK that draws people in is the powerful messages in the band’s music. Taka’s onstage speeches have also been gaining interest lately, with fans resonating with his words. How does it feel to have such a strong influence with your words and music?
Toru: Of course, I can’t really speak about Taka’s personal words and what he shares on stage. However, I’m thankful we can connect with fans through our music. I also think it’s because of our songs and the sentiments we share that we’re able to last so long in the industry.
Q. You recently completed the “THE MUSIC STADIUM” show, which you organised and performed at with UVERworld and YOASOBI. How was the experience of performing alongside them?
Ryota: The “THE MUSIC STADIUM” concert was definitely a unique experience, and we felt a lot of emotions going into the performance. It was also our first time performing with UVERworld and YOASOBI, so that made the concert even more special. It was undoubtedly an amazing two days, and I think the fans also felt the same way.
Q. There were also questions about the setlist. For example, many were surprised that you performed “C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.”. Was there a specific or special reason for choosing the songs on the setlist?
Toru: Since “THE MUSIC STADIUM” was a special performance and we wanted to commemorate the event, we actually thought of performing songs that our fans would enjoy. We also wanted to surprise them. So, after filtering through our discography, we ended up deciding on songs that we haven’t performed in a while, like “C.h.a.o.s.m.y.t.h.” and “Yume Yume”.
Q. You celebrated your 20th anniversary as a band last year. Looking back on such a major milestone, how do you feel about the journey so far?
Tomo: Being able to continue performing for this amount of time, releasing music and going on tour, isn’t an easy feat. Because of that, we’re very appreciative of our fans and the support they’ve shown us throughout the years because they’re the reason it’s all possible. On top of that, we still feel that urge to continue what we do so we look forward to continuing performing.
Q. On that note; the last time we spoke to Taka, we asked him what he thinks is the secret to staying together, and he (jokingly) said it was money. Do you agree with him?
All: *laughs”
Toru: Of course, there will always be talks about money among band members, not just with Japanese bands but all bands from across the world. But more important than that, I think it’s the respect that we have with each other. We can only last this long because of that respect and the communication amongst band members.
Q. Chances are, some fans are seeing you for the first time tonight, while it might be the second or third time for others. Nevertheless, what is the one thing you wish fans, or whoever, would leave with after watching your performance?
Toru: Of course, we want people to have fun at our shows. But we also want people to resonate with the messages we share in our songs. Hopefully, through our performance, the fans will feel motivated to continue doing their best in their daily life. Or even when they’re sad, I hope they can find solace in our music and feel encouraged again.
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